Week Two, no time to think,
so busy, loving the simplicity of
pencil, pen, ink, waterbrush.

in memory of my baby brother on what would be his birthday…

Halfway through, fast sketching,
loosing inhibitions!

ABOUT SKETCHPACK PROJECT: The project began in 2011 to get folks to draw daily.
The sketchpack is a small zigzag journal with two usable sides, allowing one to sketch on both sides of 15 ‘pages’ to complete the month of August. There was much enthusiasm and the project is now repeated yearly in August, with a Facebook page for us to share as we go along.
(The page is closed for viewing but you can join to play along!)
There is an Exhibition held in October at the Artsauce Studio in Observatory,
Cape Town, South Africa of mostly local Sketchpacks!

I wrote down the supply list you gave me last week, Katie, and will be heading to the store this week. You are such an inspiration! I am so excited to pick up the old high school art class memories. This post is beautiful.

Question for you: the watercolors you use are not ‘watercolors’ per se, but tubes of watercolor paint? I did look online and, of course, so different than the watercolors Michael’s sells. Checking with you first…..Thanks, Katie.

My favorite watercolors are Daniel Smith in tubes, which I put into pans and from there let them dry and use them like pan paints. Many people like pan paints, but I find them to be a bit flat compared to tubes, and think tubes are a better deal. Whatever you buy, you should buy it from one place so you get free shipping. I am sending you links. A small set can go a long way with watercolors, and one thing that might be nice about buying a pan set is then you can use the very nice pan and refill as you go. Watch out for sets of tube paints — they are very very small tubes; and not such a good deal unless they are pricey. I try to use one or two smaller stores online that also work with free shipping — Sorry, Blicks is okay but they just keep taking business from small stores and closing them — a bit like Walmart.Do not buy QoR sets — the tins are awful and unstable.

I’m sharing a number of journals I like, and steering you away from two I really do not like. In the states, not fond of Fabriano’s watercolor journals. Don’t bother with paper under 140lb — it will frustrate you. 140 will sometimes buckle but not roll. Heavier paper is pricey.
Not fond of the softcover Stillman and Birn watercolor or mixed media journals or the hardbound (uncomfortable.) The wirebound are great if you like wirebound — the paper is great in all of them.

My favorite is Moleskin A4 landscape but that is pricey and unless you are made of money might not be a good starter kit, so some recommendations (you chose sizes you are comfy with — i like landscape books, 5×8 and A4 which is 8×11 roughly:

Beta Series — Available in a wirebound format, these sketchbooks contain 25 sheets (50 pages) of 180 lb (270 gsm), natural white paper with a rough surface. Ideal for multi-media renderings, the paper has a substantial tooth, as well as enhanced wet strength and tear strength.

Delta Series — Available in both hardbound and wirebound formats, these sketchbooks contain multiple sheets of 180 lb (270 gsm) ivory paper with a rough surface. Ideal for multi-media renderings, the paper has a substantial tooth, as well as enhanced wet strength and tear strength.

Thank you so much. I keep writing down the pens and inks you use for your art work so have a huge running list! This is wonderful. Thanks for the clarification on the water colors. I don’t recall tubes back when I had art class so this clears up my confustion. Thanks so very much, Kate.